Another ace for tennis center

COURTING SUCCESS: An aerial view of the Rome Tennis Center at Berry College. A rendering of the new indoor courts now under construction can be seen at the top of the photo.

In the winter issue of Berry magazine, we reported that a best-in-class branded hotel would soon rise on Berry-owned property adjacent to the Rome Tennis Center at Berry College. College leaders and Marriott International have now confirmed that construction on a Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott will begin next fall, with completion expected in 2021. The 100-room hotel will be managed by Atlanta-based Hotel Equities.

“Based upon our market analysis of room demand in Rome, plus the demand of tennis center and college events, there is a clear need for a hotel in this area,” said President Steve Briggs. “And in keeping with Berry’s mission, there will be numerous job opportunities for students, from front desk and reception to the service areas.”

This news comes on the heels of the City of Rome’s decision earlier this year to move forward with plans for six indoor courts at the center, which is already one of the largest facilities of its type in the United States. The availability of indoor courts will make the facility even more competitive when bidding for major national events such as the Atlantic Coast Conference Men’s and Women’s Championships, which will return to Rome in 2020 and 2021.

The center, a public-private partnership between Berry and other entities, has hosted thousands of players and spectators for local, state, regional, national and international events since opening in 2016 as a 60-court facility on 30 acres of Berry-donated property adjacent to Mount Berry Mall. It is also home to Berry’s intercollegiate tennis teams and has played host to Georgia High School Association state championship matches.

This fall, it was one of the few complexes nationally to earn United States Tennis Association recognition as an “Outstanding Tennis Facility.”